Scouts work toward badges

11/11/2013

By MATTHEW KENWRIGHT

mkenwright@haysdaily.net

1The moment captured the organization's mission to mold young men with the guidance of older mentors. Fifty-two members of Scout Troop Nos. 101, 133 and 690 were fulfilling their motto to "Be Prepared" on Saturday as each scout worked to earn up to three merit badges.

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1The moment captured the organization's mission to mold young men with the guidance of older mentors. Fifty-two members of Scout Troop Nos. 101, 133 and 690 were fulfilling their motto to "Be Prepared" on Saturday as each scout worked to earn up to three merit badges.

The young men earned a variety of badges, said Steve Urban, assistant scoutmaster of Troop 101. Citizenship of the nation and the world, traffic safety, graphic art, cooking, soil and water, energy and family were among the lessons, he said. They used the pool in Fort Hays State University's Cunningham Hall to learn about swimming and water safety.

There also was a flag-raising ceremony in Mount Allen Cemetery in honor of Veterans Day, Urban said.

Dana Cunningham, scoutmaster of Troop 133, said the troops from the Wheatland District, covering Rooks, Osborne, Russell, Ellis, Trego and Gove counties, were invited to attend.

"It's a great opportunity for them to continue their achievement and moving forward in rank and advancement as they collect the knowledge of the various merit badges," Cunningham said.

Eric Adams, an eighth-grader at Hays Middle School, said the best part about being a Boy Scout was seeing the smiles on others' faces when he helps them. The youth organization is about the joy of serving, he said.

"It means to help others, basically, and have a good time while doing so," he said.

Adams said he was working on his citizenship for the world merit badge.